Sources recently suggested he was looking to create a new 'superpost' to pave his way for a return to the cabinet.

Mr Cameron added: "As a manager as it were I want all my star players on the field and Boris is a star player.

"He was a rugby player and he was a very good member of the scrum, he's good at binding together and getting that ball over the line and that's the interest that I've got, to mix my sporting metaphors.

"He's not just a great character but actually he showed as Mayor of London he's a very effective administrator, a very effective politician and so it would be good to have him on the team."

Asked whether Mr Johnson could take over from Sir George in North West Hampshire, he told BBC Radio Berkshire: "Obviously it's up to North West Hampshire, it's up to Boris, it's up to a constituency to decide who to choose and it's up to Boris to decide where to apply or whether to apply.

"I don't get to pick all the candidates but Boris is a star and it would be great to have him back on the national team as well as have him continue with the great work he's doing in London."